Summer squash, otherwise known as zucchini, can be an extremely productive crop. Once it takes off, it won’t stop producing. Learn how to grow the most delicious zucchini crops in your own garden.

You can do many things with zucchini. You can cook and serve it in casseroles, slice it up and add it to pancakes, or bake zucchini bread. A gardeners dream, zucchini is a wonderful addition to any meal.

Soil PrepZucchini enjoys well-drained, fertile soil that has been amended with a lot of compost.

PlantingBe sure to plant seed outdoors about a week after the last frost, when the soil temperature has reached 60 degrees F.

Using a PropagatorMake a 1/2 inch deep hole, then push two seeds into the hole on their sides. When the seedlings appear, pull out the weakest one. Cover the propagator with a small container that has holes poked through it to create the ideal germinating conditions.

Dig out a hole in a large prepared container. Once the seedling has grown, you can squeeze the bottle, or whatever you have used as a propagator, to remove the plant. Place the plant in the hole, firm the soil around it, and water well.

SpacingBe sure to give your squash a lot of room to spread out and grow. Plant them about 3 to 4 feet apart in rows that are about 8 to 12 feet apart.

WateringZucchini do best in soil that is consistently moist so mulch is always handy. Always water from below in order to prevent problems with disease.

FertilizingTwo weeks after seedlings come up, spray plants with compost tea. Spray again in three weeks or when the first flowers appear.

TipsPutting up a trellis can save space and create beautiful aesthetic. Loosely tie the plant to the trellis for vertical support and watch as the zucchini grows up.

PestsSquash bugs will leave pale brown blotches on your zucchini. This can cause plants to wilt suddenly so keep an eye out for these pests.

DiseasePowdery mildew can strike the plants, leaving whitish powdery spots on leaves that turn brown and dry. If you have a plant that has wilted and oozes sticky sap when cut, it could be infected with bacterial wilt, which can be spread by cucumber beetles.

HarvestingHarvest zucchini when the fruits are still small, about 3 to 4 inches across or 4 to 6 inches long. You can store zucchini in the refrigerator for about a week.

Ariana Marisolis a contributing staff writer for REALfarmacy.com. She is an avid nature enthusiast, gardener, photographer, writer, hiker, dreamer, and lover of all things sustainable, wild, and free. Ariana strives to bring people closer to their true source, Mother Nature. She graduated The Evergreen State College with an undergraduate degree focusing on Sustainable Design and Environmental Science. Follow her adventures on Instagram.